Embroidering-machine



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J'. BECKER.

EMBROIDERING MACHINE. No. 281,231. Patented July 1883.

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EMBROIDERING MACHINE. No. 281,281. 8 Patented July 17, 1888. i

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMBRQIDERI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters NG-MACHINE Patent No.281,231, dated July 17, 1883.

Application filed November 13, 18%9. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BEcKER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Embroidering or SewingMachines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

My invent-ion has for its object the produc tion of an organizedmechanism or apparatus for attachment or addition to an embroidering or,sewing machine of any usual construe t-ion havingauniversal feedingdevice to move the fabric or material in any desired direction, wherebythe said feeding device may be automatically moved to feed the materialin a circle of greater or less radius, or to so inovethe said materialasto enable the needle to produce on the fabric, with itsthread, linesof stitches varying more or less from a true circle or from a straightline. A

In this my invention I employ an actuatinggear which acts directly orindirectly to rotate the universal feeding device, and I have provided apattern-plate to move this gear so that it imparts a more or lessirregular motion to y the said actuating-gear, and to the universalfeeding device moved by it, whereby the fabric or material is moved in amore or less irregular line for the automatic production upon it by theneedlethread of a figure such as is demanded by the shape of thepattern-plate 'employed, thus relieving the operator of the machinefromall care in feeding or directing the material, yet enabling the exactreproduction continuously of any desired figure.

My invention also has for its object a novel manner of producingpatterns for the reproduction of any desired figure, as will behereinafter described.

My invention consists in certain features and organizations ofmechanism, as will be hereinafter described in the specification and IFigure 1 represents in side elevation a sufficient portion of anembroidcring-machine of usual construction with my apparatus added toillustrate my invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, atop view of a part of my apparatus, sufiieient in connection with theparts shown in Fig. 2 to enable one to understand the method ofproducing a pattern-plate to be applied to the apparatus to effect themovement of the universal feeding device in definite directions,according to the figure desired to be produced upon the material by thethread being employed; Fig. 4, a detail of part of Fig. 3. Fig. 5represents the figure which will be produccdwhen a pattern disk such asshown in Fig. 2 is employed. Fig. 6 represents in top view an apparatuswith a different pattern-disk; Fig. 7 a side elevation of Fig. 6. Fig. 8represents the figure which will be produced upon the material when thepattern-disk shown in Fig. 6 is employed. Fig. 9 is a top view of myapparatus, showing yet another form of pattern-disk; Fig. 10, a top viewof Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 represents the figure which will be produced whenthe pattern-disk shown in Fig. 9 is employed; Fig. 12, sections of Fig.1 on the dotted lines a? x and x Fig. 13 is a detail showing theeccentric stud A and a section thereof on the dotted line it; Fig. 14, adetail of the eccentric stud a? and bearing B; Fig. 15, a detail showingthe stud-gear and pinion at its ends.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have shown my apparatus applied toa Bonnaz machine, substantially such as represented in United StatesPatent No. 83,910, to which reference may be had, I have employed theletters of reference A Z R D W' L G H d c a on to represent parts thesame as in the said putout; and it will be understood in the Bonnazmachine herein represented, to which my apparatus to be described isattached, that the needle A and universal feeding device or foot 6 willbe operated as in the said patent; and it will be also understood thatthe said machine will in practice have as part of it the hand-crank,(marked S in the said patent,) by

' which to turn the univeisal feeding device and needle-bar in eitherdirection. So the stitching devices and universal feeding mechanism, being well known and common, need not be herein further described.

In this my invention I apply to the usual needle-bar, A, a long pinion,A. Upon the arm A of the said Bonnaz machine I place my attachment, thefoot-plate A of which is heldon the said arm by a suitable dog, A havinga clamping-screw, A Upon the foot-plate A I place the frame-work A ofthe attachment; and to connect the foot and frame-work together so thatthe frame may be adjusted longitudinally, the upper side of the foot isprovided with a rib, as shown in the section, Fig. 12, which co-operateswith the under side of the frame-work A of suitable shape to fit. Theframe-work A is slotted at its front end to receive the guiding-stud A,and at its rear endthe frame-work is provided with an eccentric stud, A,(shown separately in Fig. 18,) and having ahandle, A, by which it may beturned. The lower or eccentric portion of the stud A enters and fitsbetween the walls of a slot, a, in the foot A", (see detail Fig. 13,)and as the said stud, held in the framework A by the screw A entering anannular groove of the said stud, is turned by the handle A, theframe-work may be moved backward and forward upon the said foot-plate,so as to insure the engagement of the intermediate gear, B, with thelong pinion A on the needle-bar.

The frame-work A has bearings B B for the shaft B having upon one end ofit the set of cone-pulleys Bf, driven by a belt, B which will extendfrom a corresponding but reverselyplaced set of cone-pulleys, (notshown,) but placed on theshaft-of the usual flywheel of the driving ortreadle stand, the latter set of cones being located just between thestand and the inner side of the said fly-wheel, the transfer of .thebeltv B from one to the other of the grooves of the said cone-pulleysoperating in well-known manner to vary the speed of the shaft B withrelation to the speed of the driver shaft of the stand, the shaftv towhichthe lower set of cones referred to is secured The forward end ofthe shaft B is provided with a bevel gear, B, which is adapted to beengaged at will with either of the bevel-gears B or B fast on the mainshaft B of my apparatus. To enable the gear B to be engaged with eitherof the said gears B or B at will, so as to rotate the'shaft B ineitherdirection, I have made the bearings B B of the shaft B so as topermit the said shaft to rise and fall somewhat at its front end.

movement by a screw, a", which enters an annular groove-in the saidstud. Upon thetop of the frame-work A is attached a stationary circulartoothed track, a Upon the shaft B,

just above this stationary track, is placed loosely the actuating-gearO, for turning the needle-bar, needle, and universal feedcontinuously'in one'di-rection, or backward and'forward,or, rather, forimparting to the said nee-' main pinion a, drives the stud-gear O sothat Figs. 1 and 2, the intermediate gear, B, being dle-bar and feed acontinuous rotary motion, or a rotary reciprocating motion.

Placed loosely upon shaft B, above the actu ating-gear O, is thepattern-carrying arm 0, and to the latter is attached, preferably in anadjustable manner, by a screw, a", a plate, 0. The upper end of shaft-Bis made to extend above this plate 0 and has attached to it the mainpinion a, the said pinion being herein shown as forming part of the saidshaft. The plate 0 has an intermediate gear, 0 attached to it in anadjustable manner by the screw 0*, and the said intermediate gear drivesthe stud gear 0 (shown separately in Fig. 15,) said stud-gear having atits ends pinions b b. The stud-gear G has its bearing in an adjustablecollar, 0, attached to the pattern carrying arm 0 by a screw, 6 extendedthrough a slot, b in the said arm, (see Figs. 2 and6,) and screwed intoabottom plate, 0. (Shown clearly in Fig. 1.) The adjustment of thecollar O upon the arm 0 permits the pinion b of the stud-gear to engagethe teeth of the stationary 0 track a", as in Figs. 1 and 2, or to bedisengagedfrom the said track, as it will be when the pattern-platerepresented in Figs. 9 and 10 is employed, -as will be hereinafter,described.

Thepattern-plate D, shaped as represented in Fig. 2, to produce thefigure represented in Fig. 5, is attached to the pinion b of thestudgear 0 byascrew, b. As shown in the drawings, Fig. 1, thepattern-plate D has a hub, D attached to its under side by theset-screws b, the said hub fitting over the end of the gear I).

The intermediate gear, 0, driven by the 10 5 its lower pinion, b,in'engagement with the stationary track a is caused to travel around thesaid track and move the stud-gear O and H the pattern-carrying arm 0,and during this movement of the armthe rotation of the stud- 1 r0 gearon its axis will, it is obvious, cause the pattern-plate D to be rotatedin unisonwith the said stud-gear C The actuating-gear O referred to hasa socket, D adjustably attached to it by a set-screw, b and the saidsocket, split at one side, as shown in Fig. 6, has a binding-screw, 72by which to tighten the said socket to properly hold in adjustedposition a tool-post, D, provided with afinger, D adjustably attached tothe said post by a set-screw, D. The socket D and toolpost and fingerare so adjusted that the end of the said finger bears against theperiphery of the pattern-plate being used, and the said finger ismaintained in contact with the said pattern-plate 'by a suitable spring,herein shown as a spiral spring, b connecting the arm 0 and theactuating-gear C.

With a pattern-plate such as represented in in engagement with thepinion A on the nee-' dle-bar A, the shaft Bmay be started, and thegears B B awill drive the intermediate gear,

0 and, as before described, will'turn the patseen that it, by acting onthe finger D cartern-plate on its axis,while the said patternis I.

moved in a circular path about the stationary track; and the saidpattern-plate D thus having a planetary motion, I shall hereinafterdesignate it asa planetarypattern-plate. The finger 1), being heldagainst the planetary pattern-plate by the spring b will cause theactnating-gear O to follow the said pattern-plate as it moves in acircle about the axis of shaft 13*; but, owing to the cam-shaped orirregular periphery of the planetary pattern-plate, it is obvious thatthe actuatinggear C will have an interihitting or reciprocating movementduring its rotation about the shaft B, the extent and =frequency of thesaid reciprocating movements depending, it will be understood, upon theshape of the pattern-plate; or, in other words, the shape of the cam andits speed of rotation is such. as compared with the speed of rotation ofthe planetary arm that one counteracts the other, and practicallyresults in temporarily keeping the actuating-gear O at rest. \Vith a camsuch as shown in Fig. 2, the straightest parts of the figure in Fig. 5are pro-, duced when the gear 0 is substantially at rest, and the curvedparts when the finger D is moving toward the center of thepattern'plate. When a patternplate such as shown in Fig. 2 is used tomake a figuresuoh as represented in Fig. 5, the needle-bar or theuniversal feed is not actually turned except in one direction; but thespeedat which it is turned in that one direction is made variable.

It will be understood that the gear 0, if left to follow the planetaryarm, and the patternplate did not rotate, would travel forward at aspeed depending upon the speed of shaft B but as the pattern-plate alsorotates, it will be ried by the gear 0 and held pressed against the saidplate by a spring, will movethe said gear G backward in opposition tothe-forward movement just stated, which will act to retard oreompletelycheck the forward movement of the gear C; and with apattern-plate of proper shape the forward movementof the gearOmay beovercome or reversed to the extent of the length of the space 20 cut outof the said gear; as in Figs. 2 and 6. When the backward movement of thegear G by the pattern-plate is equal to the forward movement of gear 0by shaft B*, it will be seen that practically the gear 0 will standstill; but if the finger D rests on a portion of the pattern-plate whichis the are of a true circle described from the spur-gear, then theforward movement of thegear 6 will be dependent entirely upon the speedof shaft B, and a figure represented by a tiii'e'eircle would he formedon the material;

by t he thread.

Toproduce irregular curves, it is necessary to make the movement of thegear 0 variable, or fast and slow at intervals, and this may be donejust in the proportion that the speed of the gear 0 derived from shaft Bis permitted to exceed the movement of the said gear in the. reversedirection derived from the particular shape of the pattern-plate.Thevariation in speed of the gear 0 and of the universal feed is inproportion to the deviation of the pattern-surface from a true circle.The actuatinggear 0, having imparted to it a progressive butreciprocating movement during its rotation, will, it is obvious, turnthcintcrmediate gear, B, needle-bar, and usual universal feed mechanismin like manner, enabling the said feed to move the material upon whichit rests in the proper direction, so that the usual needle will loop thethread delivered to it always in the proper line to produce on thematerial a line of stitches in strict accordance with the requirementsof thepattern-plate, thus entirely relieving the operator of the machinefrom any care as to the feeding of the material.

In order to produce a set figuresuch, for instance, as shown in Fig.8the said figure always having a fixed number of loops or curves, andthen being repeated, it is necessary that the teeth of the stud-gear Cbe always a multiple of the teeth of theintermediate, C, so that'thecomplete figure will be produced during each complete revolution of thepattern-plate about its own axis. 'Io illus trate, Fig. 8 contains nineloops in nine different positions, six in the main part of the figureand three in the stem, the central loop of the stem being a very smallsharp loop. Therefore the pattern-plate D (see Fig. 6, it being of theproper shape to produce the figure shown in Fig. 8) must be so gearedwith and driven by the main pinion c as to rotate once while the saidmain pinion rotates nine times, thus enabling the pattern-plate toreciprocate the actuating-gear as it is being revolved, so that it-willturn the needle-bar and feed :to automatically move the material underthe feeding device in the direction required by the pattern to producethe said figure. InFig. 8 I have marked the loops 1 to 9. In Fig. 6 thepattern-plate D is attached directly to the in termediate gear, C. Itwill be understood that the shape of the planetary pattern-plate may bevaried at pleasure, according to the figure to be produced by theneedle-thread on the fabric or material.

To increase or decrease the n umber of stitch es in each loop or repeatofa figure to be produced, it is only necessary to alter the speed ofthe shaft B, as before statedas, for instance, the faster the speed ofthe shaft B with relation to the speed of the usual stitching parts theless the number of stitches in each loop or repeat of the figure, andvice versa. =-In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown another modification of myapparatus or attachment adapted to produce the figure represented inFig. 11, or a figure produced by giving to the cloth or material amovement sufficient to produce a certain number of. stitches in one andthen in another direction. In this modifica IIO tion the actuating-gearC has only a movement of reciprocation, and never makes a completerotation, as in the plan previously described,

tionary, it being secured to the stationary track by the screw 0,extended through the plate G, and a hub, c, placed between it and thestationary track, the said hub extending down through and opening in theactuating-gear O. In this modification the pattern-plate D is secured tothe stud-gear O and the collar C is so adjusted on the arm 0 as todisengage the pinion b from the stationary track a so that the stud-gearmay be rotated by the intermediate gear, 0, when the arm 0 is fastened,as stated. In this modification the pattern-plate has only a movement ofrotation about its own axis. The'stud-gear and the actuating-gear O arereciprocated by the action of the said pattern-plate on the finger DInstead of securing the pattern-plate upon the stud-gear, as in Figs. 9and 10, I may, if

desired, attach apattern-plate to the intermediate gear, 0 as in themodification represented in Fig. 6, such position of pattern-plateenabling the production of more complex and intricate figures.

I do not limit my invention to the employment of an intermediate gear,0, of any particular size, as intermediate gears of different sizes maybe employed, according to the pattern desired to be produced.

Assuming that the figure delineated in Fig. 8 was produced while thebevel-gear B was in engagement with the bevelgear B and I should desireto reverse the figure, it is only necessary to engage the bevel-gear Bwith the bevelgear B to reverse the direction of movement of theapparatus. v

To automatically effect the reversal of the parts of the apparatus'toreverse the figure being formed, I may attach a series of tappets, (1 inan adjustable manner upon the actuat ing-gear C, and provide theeccentricstud (t with one or more suitable fingers or arms, d",

to be struck by the said tappets, the turning of the eccentric studmoving the gear B into engagement with one and then with the other ofthe gears B B Referring to Fig. 10, let it be supposed that the pin (1at the right is about to strike the arm (1 to throw B into engagementwith B", such movement will result in changing the direction of rotationof all the parts and of the gear 0, so that as soon as the pin d at theleft of Fig. 10 arrives at d it will turn it back in the oppositedirection.

In the drawings I have shown a variety of pattern-plates for producingdifferent figures. The method of producing these pattern-plates is animportant feature of my invention. It being desired to produce a certainfigure in thread 'or silk upon the material by the usual.

needle, the operator will turn the universal feed by means of the usualcrank-handle, represented below the bed-plate in Figs. 1 and 2 of thesaid Bonnaz machine,) taking care that the figure is made as perfectlyas possible. Before starting, however, to produce the figure desired, aplain metal or stiff plate,

and the pattern-carrying arm 0 is made sta- 6 will be attached to eitherthe stud-gear or the intermediate, 0 and the tool-post will be providedwith an arm, efl instead of the finger D The arm 6 at its front end, isprovided with an adjustable marker or point, e, to work or trace a lineupon the plate 6 as the latter is rotated under the said marker ortracer, as in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 it will be assumed that the operator hasturned the universal feed by the usual hand-crank, during which time theneedle-bar is also turned, and the latter, by

the gear A thereon, turns the intermediate gear, B, and the latterdrives the actuatingwheel 0 and its parts to rotate the plate 6 Theplate 0 having been marked or traced, all that part of it outsidethelinetraced or marked thereon will'be completely cut away or removed,thus forming a pattern-plate which, employed as herein described of thepatternplates D, will enable the automatic production upon the materialof a figure-like the one just produced by the manipulation of themachine by the operator, and any number of the said figures may beproduced rapidly and correctly without further care by the operator. Ihave provided the head of the machine with a stationary guide orsupport, (1*, for the needle-bar A, as in Fig. 1, so as to insure theproper engagement of the pinion A and intermediate gear, B. The belt Eon the wheel E is extended about the larger belt-wheel of the treadlemechanism.

' It is obvious that the apparatus herein de scribed as of my inventionmay be employed to rotate or impart a rotary reciprocating movement toany usual universal feed by properly connecting the gear 0 therewith. v

I desire it to be understood that the intermediate gear, B, is notessential, but may be omitted, and the gear 0 directly engage pinion A,without departing from my invention. By adjusting the tool-post andfinger, and placing the end of the finger in contact with the peripheryof the pattern-plate more or less out of a straight line drawn throughthe stud-gear and the center motion of the toolpost, the figure to beproduced on the material by the needle and thread may be more or lesscontracted or expanded.

Having described my attachment as added to a Bonnaz machine, I desire itto be understood that it may be added to other wellknown sewing-machineshaving a universal feedas, for instance, I may cause the actuating-gearO to engage and move a gear attached to an arbor having upon it anoblique cam fitted to slide in a ring-plate, as shown in United StatesPatent'No. 134,463, wherein the said gear is marked t and the obliquecam is marked'r.

Iclaim 1. The needle-bar, universal-feed device, a pinion, A, andtoothed actuating-gear suitably connected therewith to move it, combinedwith a rotary pattern-plate and suitable intermediate connections toenable the said gear to tially as described.

2. In an attachment for automatically operating the universal feedingdevice of an embroidering or sewing machine, the toothed actuatinggear-wheel and pattern-carrying arm, combined with a pattern-platehaving a planetary movement, substantially as described.

3. The pattern-carrying arm, stud-gear having pinion b, and the maingear a, combined with the intermediate gear, 0, and patternplate havinga planetary movement, substantially as described.

4. The pattern-carrying arm, stud-gear having pinions b b, and the maingear a, combined with the intermediate gear, 0 stationary track, andpattern-plate'having a planetary movement, substantially as described.

5. The main gear a, the intermediate gear, (F, stud-gear having pinionsI) b, and the stationary track, combined with the pattern-carrying arm,and adjustable collar 0, thereon, carrying the shaft of the spur gear,substantially as described.

6. The patterncarrying arm, the stud-gear having pinions b I), the maingear a, the intermediate gear, 0 stationary track, and actuating-wheel0, combined with the rotating pattern-plate and a finger or projectioncarried by the actuating-gear to be acted upon by the saidpattern-plateto reciprocate the actuating-gear O, and through it effectthe feeding movement of the material in the desired direction,substantially as described.

7. The actuating-gear O, rotating pattern plate, stud-gear on which itis mounted, arm C, the intermediate gear, 0 and main gear a, to rotateit,combined with the shaft l3 and means to turn the latter in one or theopposite direction at will when. it is desired to reverse the figure tobe produced on the fabric being embroidered, substantially as set forth.

8. The actuating-gear (J, rotating patternplate, stud-gear on which itis mounted, arm C, the intermediate gear, 0, and main gear (4 to rotateit, combined with the shaft B and means to rotate the said shaft atdifferent speeds with relation to the established speed of the mainshaft D of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The actuatinggear O, the tool-post made movable with it, and thefinger, combined with the, rotating pattern-plate and means to keep thefinger against the pattern-plate, substantially as described.

10. The universal feeding device and needlebar, pinion A, moving inunison with them, the intermediate gear, B, gear 0, arm 0, andstud-gear, stationary track, and plate 0 combined with a marking ortracing tool to mark or trace the said plate while the feeding device isbeing turned by or through the shaft \V, as usual, to thus outline theform of the camsuitable to enable the automatic reproduction of thefigure made while actuating the feeding device by. hand, substantiallyas described.

11. In an attachment for automatically operating a universal feedingdevice, the patterncarrying arm, means to move it continuously in onedirection at a uniform speed, a patternplate mounted on an axis made totravel with the patterncarrying arms, and means to rotate the saidpattern-plate, combined with the actuating-gear having its speed ofmovement made variable by deviation of the pattern-plate from a truecircle to thus enable the universal feeding device to move the fabric ormaterial in suitable directions for the production by the needle and itsthread of irregular figures, substantially as described.

12. The main pinion (5, the pattern-plate, and intermediate gearing torotate the said plate, combined with the actuatinggear and finger mademovable with the said actuatinggear and held against the pattern-plate,sub stantia-lly as and for the purpose described.

13. That improvement in the art ormethod of producing pattern-plates forembroiderymachines which consists in automatically working or tracingon. a revolving plate an out line for a figure while the feed of thefabric is being effected by hand, and then shaping the said plateaccording to the said outline, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BECKER.

Vitnesses G. W. GREGORY, B. J. Novns.

